Widespread clearcutting in the Sierra Nevada by Sierra Pacific Industries is destroying an estimated 90% plus of this critical resource in clearcuts. The majority of oaks and other hardwoods are being cut, bulldozed, sprayed with herbicides, or otherwise damaged or killed by these operations.
Oaks are critical for food and cover by a large population of bird and mammal species. Productivity of deer and other species has been directly related to acorns.
Oaks provide structural habitat for concealment, resting, nesting, denning, and birthing. Their flowers provide nectar and pollen that are essential for the survival of countless species of butterflies, bees, and beetles
Take action now! Help EPFW end clearcutting and destruction of oaks in the Sierra.
The Sacrmento Bee just reported that we citizens are subsidizing the CA timber industry…. including companies like Sierra Pacific Indutries owned by a billionaire!
The article “California logging industry’s $18 million state subsidy”
by Matt Weiser (mweiser@sacbee.com) can be found at >>http://m.sacbee.com/sacramento/db_98825/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=eNW0P9Hm&full=true#display
The report noted that “California taxpayers subsidize the logging industry to the tune of $18 million a year, according to testimony at an Assembly hearing Tuesday.The key question before the Accountability and Administrative Review Committee was whether any of that subsidy is justified.”
The article further noted that “The industry pays state agencies about $550,000 a year in permitting fees. That means the state general fund subsidizes the balance of more than $18 million a year. In comparison, the state plans to close 70 parks next year because it doesn’t have $11 million in the general fund to keep them operating.”
Environmental groups testified that that clearcut logging causes habitat loss and water pollution and that the industry should cover all of the state’s cost to police those problems.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – September 21 – A coalition of conservation and sportsmen’s groups formally notified the state of California today that the state’s management program for timber harvest is out of compliance with laws designed to protect the state’s fish and wildlife. Recent changes in program funding have largely eliminated California Department of Fish and Game review of decisions by the California Department of Forestry (Cal Fire), the state agency that oversees logging in the state. Both Fish and Game and Cal Fire are housed in the state’s Resources Agency.
In October 2010, former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed Fish and Game funding for the majority of staff positions that review timber harvest; the funding has yet to be reinstated. As a result, Cal Fire no longer regularly consults with Fish and Game over the environmental impacts of ogging, as is required by state law. In the Sierra Nevada, for example, Fish and Game involvement has been completely eliminated despite the fact that widespread clearcutting continues to occur.
“Logging can cause severe harm to California’s wildlife, including species such as coho salmon and steelhead trout,” said Justin Augustine with the Center for Biological Diversity. “That’s why state law requires Cal Fire to consult with the Department of Fish and Game: to make sure that our fish and wildlife receive the protections they need and deserve.
Cal Fire’s timber-harvest review program is currently exempted from certain provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act because the program is considered “functionally equivalent” to the normal “environmental impact report” process that most projects go through. But in order to maintain its “functionally equivalent” status, Cal Fire is required to consult with Fish and Game regarding the impacts of logging plans on fish, wildlife and rare plants.
“We have tried hard to maintain a fig leaf of funding for consultation on THPs by the Department of Fish and Game,” said Michael Endicott with the Sierra Club. “But even legislative budget proposals that would provide interim funding without taking any money from the General Fund have been removed by the past two governors. It is time for the governor and the agencies to come up with proposals that will assure full participation in THP reviews.”
“The state cannot slash funding for DFG’s review of timber harvest plans on one hand and then pretend that DFG is meaningfully participating in timber harvest reviews and protecting fisheries on the other,” said California Sportsfishing Protection Alliance Executive Director Bill Jennings.
In a letter to California Natural Resources Secretary John Laird, the Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club California, Forests Forever, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, Defenders of Wildlife, Environmental Protection Information Center, Ebbetts Pass Forestwatch, Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center, Central Coast Forest Watch, Battle Creek Alliance, and the Northern California Council, Federation of Fly Fishers called for either a restoration of Fish and Game oversight of Cal Fire’s timber harvest review or a cancellation of Cal Fire’s functional equivalency status under the California Environmental Quality Act.
At the Center for Biological Diversity, we believe that the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature – to the existence in our world of a vast diversity of wild animals and plants. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We do so through science, law, and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters, and climate that species need to survive.
Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) has already had plans approved or pending to use clearcut type/evenaged logging methods on approximately 16,000 acres – equivalent to 25 square miles in Calaveras County. You can see what has already been clearcut on a satellite map made for EPFW at www.sierraforest.org. Which forests are being clearcut this year? How much more is planned? Continue reading
You can see what has already been clearcut on a satellite map made for EPFW at www.sierraforest.org. (For more information on the specific clearcutting logging projects mentioned here view this pdf.)
On July 28, 2011 KQED had a live radio show on the forest clearcutting activities in the watershed of Battle Creek where public money is attempting to restore the watershed Ths show is incredibly informative and is is a must listen for those who care about our salmon and forests. Learn about the widespread clearcutting by one company – Sierra Pacific Industries – in this watershed. You can access it at http://www.kqed.org/a/forum/R201107280900 Continue reading
A new map is now available at www.sierraforest.org which shows the extent of forest clearcutting in Calaveras. This sattelite view of Calaveras and Toulumne clearly shows the amount of functional wildlife habitat that has been destroyed in just over a decade. SPI is continuing to clearcut this year and continues to submit more plans to clearcut more of what remains. Currently Ebbetts Pass Forest Watch is working with an ever growing coalition of individuals and groups to expose these practices, present the science that shows damage from clearcutting to climate change, wildlife and native plants and our watersheds. Please add your voice to that of those in the growing demanding a return to responsible logging methods. Continue reading
Published: Thursday, Jun. 23, 2011 – 4:38 pm Five environmental and fishing groups today called on Gov. Jerry Brown to protect salmon habitat in Battle Creek, where erosion from state-approved may threaten a costly restoration project. Continue reading
